Syria, Eritrea, Somalia and Egypt main countries of origin

(ANSA) - Rome, February 4 - The number of migrants landing
on Italian shores is on the rise, deputy Interior Minister
Filippo Bubbico said Tuesday.

Some 2,157 migrants landed in Italy in January 2014
compared to 'just' 217 in the same month the previous year.
Last year a total of 42,925 migrants reached Italy by sea,
up 325% over 2012.
Of these, 3,818 were unaccompanied children and 37,886
landed in Sicily, including 14.753 on the Sicilian island of
Lampedusa.
The vast majority of migrants (27,314) set off from Libya,
followed by Egypt (9,215) and then Turkey (2,077).

The main country of origin based on declarations made on
arrival was war-torn Syria, which accounted for 11,307 migrants
compared to 582 in 2012.
It was followed by Eritrea with 9,834 migrants, up more
than 400% over the previous year; Somalia with 9,263 migrants
and Egypt with 2,618 migrants.

The vast majority - 37,258 - reached Italy after being
rescued at sea.
The figures do not take into account the countless numbers
of migrants who die making the perilous sea crossing to escape
poverty and conflict.

In October a boat carrying African migrants to Italy sunk
off the cost of Lampedusa leaving nearly 400 dead.
The tragedy sparked calls for solidarity towards migrants
and promises of support from Europe.